It’s called Junior and it’s electric, but it’s 100% Alfa Romeo.

We are not revealing anything if we say that Alfa Romeo has a long history of great cars. The cars are as beautiful as they are fun to drive. For example, the current Giulia and Stelvio, because to be honest, whoever writes this,Tonale was neither foo nor fa. And the brand itself did not make any special effort to “sell” it to us: the first dynamic test took place in the area of ​​Lake Como (Italy). Yes, it is a very chic place, but the route chosen was shameful. In many places I had to almost stop to avoid hitting the car in front. I say this here, but I said it to the people in charge at the time.

As for the new Alfa Romeo Junior, you’ll remember that this is the car previously known as the Milano. If you don’t know the reason for this change, we’ll tell you here. But anecdotes aside, what a coincidence that when I tried it for the first time, the scenario was now completely different. None other than the tracks that the manufacturer has been producing in Balocco since 1962. and during which it carries out dynamic tests of its trams… and racing cars.

Privilege

A holy of holies which has never been revealed to outsiders. At least not in general and not in the route that Alfa Romeo provided us with, including a high-speed route; more than 20 kilometers, forming the route known as the Langhe and which faithfully reproduces the typical mountain roads of the Piedmont region; and a section of “special sidewalks” dotted with potholes, tram tracks, cobblestones and steps.

The appointment is also accompanied by Double Prize: The version we’re going to use, which is in the final stages of testing, is the icing on the cake: electric with a new 280 hp engine that debuts in the Junior model. Let us remind you that this SUV is the smallest model of the Italian brand and the first car for which Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, the Spaniard who heads the design department of the house, was responsible.

Hybrid or Electric

It measures 4.17 metres in length (30 cm shorter than the Tonale) and is positioned as the gateway to the brand. which means market penetration from 49% to 68%. Its styling stands out, although there are those who think the front end is too garish and flashy (even the designer admits this), and it is also questionable that it does not have a number plate on the side, like many current Alfas. But if it did, it would have to be something like a GUP to comply with safety regulations. And, as the head of design recalls, the manufacturer had dozens of cars with the number plate in the middle. In any case, its distinguishing feature is the truncated tail, borrowed from some Alfa Romeos of the past.

It is currently offered for sale as light hybrid with 136 hp (from 29,000 euros) with front or all-wheel drive; or as an electric one with 156 hp and a range of 410 km for 38,500 euroswithout discounting possible assistance. The battery-powered Junior Veloce with 280 hp that we tested is not yet available or available to order, but will cost around 50,000 euros. His arrival is scheduled for the end of the year.

Mechanical differential

According to the manufacturer, it was developed with the participation of the elite of its engineers, Some of them have created unique projects such as 4C, 8C, Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio or Giulia GTA. There’s nothing there. In addition, the car comes with another world-first front-wheel drive electric drive: TorSen D mechanical limited-slip differential. This is the fourth evolution of the one that debuted in 2006 on the Alfa Romeo 147 Q2 and is a typical racing car solution that, by acting on the distribution of torque between the wheels (in this case the front ones), improves grip when cornering.

In addition, this version of Junior is different the most direct direction (at a ratio of 14.6:1); 20-inch wheels; sports suspension height reduced by 25 mm (with special springs and stabilizers), Front brakes 380 mm. with four-piston calipers that reduce the braking distance to 35 meters from a speed of 100 km/h, and extended wheel arches.

Driving position

And now comes the moment of truth. We have a fleet of cars painted in red, black or white – the three official colors of this version. Inside we find a digital instrument panel in the form of a traditional clock and a multifunctional screen. Well-designed in terms of size, resolution and functionality, also focused on the driver. The two screens are 10.25 inches in size. In general, the covering materials are hard plastic, with the exception of the dashboard and interior. excellent front Corsa sports seats from Sabelt. They are one-piece, optional and upholstered in black/red suede.

The only problem is that the rear part of the body is very bulky and somewhat irritates the passengers’ legs in this area. It would be better if there were two of them rather than three, because the central area is narrow and uncomfortable. behind us, The boot capacity is 400 litres, the best among possible electric competitors. Daniel Thiago, Product Manager, tells us.

Its shape is not very regular, and the floor is double-height, although Alfa Romeo has invented a a small box placed between the engine and the front hood. Good idea, although we are afraid that it will become a source of vibrations.

from 0 to 100 in 5.9 seconds

We set off with the safety car, which is none other than a 520hp Stelvio Quadrifoglio, and there’s an instructor at the controls, so there’s not much we can do about it, although The Junior is well maintained: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds, It reaches speeds of over 200 km/h and is very light: 1590 kg, which is about 200 kg less than its best competitors.

We choose the most dynamic mode from three possible ones. And on the long part of the track, it is recommended to switch the gearbox to B mode so that greater regeneration helps us when braking, since, in addition, when you take your foot off the gas pedal, the load shifts to the front axle.

The fiasco is decided

And disappointment. In these tests, the instructor drives as fast as the car behind him can keep up. And then the pace increases… or decreases. What happened? The journalist sitting in the back is not the most experienced driver and without further ado turns the trip into a quick ride.. Plus, we can’t overtake the car in front, and I, who’s at the back of the group, have to work really hard to have fun because I overtake it right away.

So when we got back to base, we talked to the organization. Can we repeat it? Yes, of course, we are told, But we won’t be able to walk the entire route because part of it is closed to video recording. It doesn’t matter, we say. There are only three of us journalists now, and the instructor has been told not to slow down or speed up the pace.

Now yes

I leave a faster teammate in front of me and now the car’s potential is revealed. The best thing, of course, is the excellent cornering speed. The front axle is stuck like a saucer and it clearly warns when we reach the limit and start to slide, which, combined with the very quick steering and powerful brakes, provides great safety. The rear axle is also not easy to knock out, in this case with a torsion bar. In fact, the car broke down only on a slope that changes to a left turn downhill, which then connects to another right turn uphill. These characteristics are also affected by the wheels installed: a Michelin Pilot Sport in sizes 225/40 is designed specifically for electric vehicles.

When using this engine, the Junior runs quite quietly, although we could choose that too. The speakers produce sound that enhances the perception of acceleration and deceleration. The truth is, we forgot to activate it. It doesn’t matter: it’s so we can better hear the roar of the Stelvio V6 engine as the instructor picks up the pace and we get ready for more fun.

Electric Route Planner

It is obvious that in such conditions kilometers of autonomy fly by. The permitted combined cycle range is 410 km, which will be less in real conditions. To make the journey smoother, the Junior Veloce is equipped with a special navigation system that tells us where we should stop to recharge and for how long, updating the information in real time depending on the road conditions and our driving style. The brand also gives away a wall box (not its installation) and an electronic card to access more than 600,000 charging stations across Europe. The maximum power at which we can carry out this operation is 100 kW DC.

Other interesting details: Semi-autonomous pilot level 2 (maintains speed, distance from the vehicle in front and position within the lane) and voice recognition system with ChatGPT integrated.